Golf course marker



' May 19, 193 5 c. G. DUGANNE,

' GOLF COURSEl MARKER Filed March 5,

:inventor (ttomegs Patented May 19, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

My present invention relates to games and game apparatus, and more especially to the game of golf.

`An object of the invention is to provide a golf course marker, which includes a standard Which may be introduced and removed from operative position on a golf course, or practicegreen, and which may additionally support a means by which accurate determination of the distance may be had of the several balls from the hole.

Another object of the invention is to provide a standard to which is attached a measuring device,; which measuring device is preferably pivotally mounted upon the standard in order to mark the distance from the flag of balls which lie at different distances and from different directions from the standard.

A further object of the invention is to provide a golf course marker having a measuring device which may be quickly unrolled or unfolded from itssupport on the golf standard, and as quickly returned to its rolled or folded position thereon.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for measuring the different distances of 4a number of golf balls from the marker, which will not interfere, in its folded position, or in its rolled position, with the play of the several balls during the course of the approach and putting shots onto and on the green.

A further object of the invention is to provide a marker which may be used upon practice greens, or upon regular greens of a golf course and which may be quickly converted and used upon a lawn or lother place not provided with a putting green hole.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a. golf course marker having means for increasing putting accuracy.

Other objects will appear hereinafter throughout the specification.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of my improvements showing the measuring device in folded position; v

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section, of the improvements disclosed by Fig. 1, but showing the measuring device partially unfolded in dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a modification of the measuring device as applied to a golf course marker; y

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of another form of putting device; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the device shown by Fig. 4, partly in section.

Referring to the drawing, forming part of this application, the numeral I indicates a marker which is provided with a lower portion 2 of such shape and size as to be inserted within the aperture 3 of a standard-size cup 4. Mounted in any 5 suitable manner on the pin I are a plurality of bracket members 5 and 6, which bracket members are pivotally mounted upon the standard I. The lower bracket 5 is held from downward movement by a nut 'I, but this is not necessary, inas- 10 much as said bracket may be frictionally held by the screw 8 so as to allow rotation of the bracket and yet hold the bracket in proper position upon the standard I. The bracket 6 may be also provided with a nut. I prefer, however, to hold the 15 bracket 6 in frictional contact according to the adjustment of the screw 9. Under some conditions the ends of the screws 8 and 9 may seat in circular grooves in the standard, but inasmuch as I consider such construction not essential to my 20 improvements, such grooves have not been illus- Jtlated.. The lower bracket 5 is provided with an arm Ill, which supports in pivotal relation by means of the pivot II, a rule member I2 which consists of af plurality of sections I3, III and I5, 25 hinged together, and I may provide any suitable number of such sections. When in folded position, and as indicated in full lines in Figures 1 and 2, the upper portion of the rule is held by a plurality of spring fingers I6 forming parts of the 30 bracket 6.

The brackets 5V and I are additionally provided with extensions, which may be provided with a square or circular hole to support a rod I9. Branching out from either side of the portion I8, 35 which may be mounted on the end of the rod I9, are a pair of arms 2|] and 2l. The rod I9 is provided with a handle 22 by which it may be moved in a vertical direction relative to the brackets 5 and 6.

The lower portion of the pin 2, is provided with a screw 23. There is also provided a stud member 24 having a sleeve portion 25, the interior of which is provided with a screw threaded portion. The rod I9 may be square and the bearings 45 may also be square to prevent rotation of the rod and arms 2D and 2I relative to the brackets, or a set screw may be provided in the bracket 5 to seat in a longitudinal groove of the rod to allow longitudinal movement but prevent rotative movement of the rod relative to the bracket 5. These details, which are not considered essentials to the invention, have not been shown.

When it is .desired to use the device disclosed by Figures 1 and 2, as a means for practicing golf, 55

and where there is no hole provided, the stud 24 is unscrewed from the pin 2, and the screw portion of the pin is inserted by forcing the screw member into the turf. Under these circumstances, the arms 20 and 2| which are attached to the member I8, are used in place of the hole, the handle 22 being manipulated to turn the brackets on the pin I, in order that the space between the arms 20 and 2| may be in line with the ball, or between the ball and the pin I, and the rod I9 may serve as the means for transmitting movement from the bracket 6 to the bracket 5. I also contemplate using the parts I9, 20, 2| and 22 as a means of improving putting accuracy upon a green provided with a hole, as indicated in Figures l and 2. It will be noted, due to the small distance between the ends of the arms 20 and 2 I, that more accurate putting is required to place the ball between these arms, than to putt into the cup 4, inasmuch as the distance between the arms 20 and 2| is less than the diameter of the cup 4. When it is desired to use the member I8, the handle 22 is pushed downward causing the arms 20 and 2| to be lowered so as to be at about the level of the turf forming the green.

The improvements herein described are used upon .the greens of a golf course, and during ordinary play the brackets and 6 and the arms and 2| attached to part I9, are held in adjusted position far enough above the level of the ground forming the green, in order that a. ball putted from any direction will not contact the bracket 5, member I8, arms 20 and 2|, but such balls will be putted into the cup in the ordinary manner. The rod I9 is held in the proper position of adjustment by friction between the bearings of the brackets 5 and 6. However, any suitable spring catch may also be used to prevent slipping of the rod relative to the bearing of either bracket. Such a spring catch forms no part of the present invention, however, and has therefore not been shown in the several figures. The measuring device indicated by the numeral I2 may be used to determine the distance from the pin, of the several balls in play, by merely freeing the rule from the spring arm I6, and pulling out the measure as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2. The measure is subsequently straightened out to measure the distance of one ball from the pin. If it is now desired to measure a ball which is located in another direction from the pin, from the one just measured, the brackets 5 and 6 are merely turned about the pin as a pivot, until the rule is in line with the ball and the distance from the ball to the pin is then measured.

Figure 3 illustrates another form of mesuring device in which the pin 26, is provided with a spool 21. The spool may be rotated about the pin 26 as it rests upon the ring 28, which is fixedly mounted upon the pin by the screw 29. The spool 21 is provided with a spring Wound tape 3|), which is preferably constructed of non-rusting metal. The tape 30 is wound within the spool 2'| by means of a spring, not shown, all of well known construction. By means of the construction illustrated by Figure 3, balls at various distances and located in diiTerent directions from the pin, may be quickly and accurately measured in order to determine the proper order of putting.

Considerable argument has arisen in play as to the order of putting, which order is usually determined by the distance of the several balls from theY pin. Heretofore, it has been almost impossible to accurately determine the order of putting, according to the distances of the balls from the pin, inasmuch as two or more balls may be very nearly the same distance from the pin. 'I'his is particularly the case when the balls lie in diierent directions from the pin. Heretofore, in most cases during golf matches, the human eye has been relied upon as the means for determining which ball was away from the hole. By the improvements disclosed herein, a very quick and absolutely accurate means has been provided for determining the distance of the several balls from the pin which are in play.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a modication of the putting device shown by Figures 1 and 2. The pin 3| in this instance is provided with a spring clip 32 having arms 33 and 34, respectively. The pin 3| is also provided with a screw 35 at its base, which may be similar to or the same as the screw 23 shown by Figure 2. In this instance, the plug 24 has been removed, however, to allow the insertion of the end of the pole 35 into the turf. The member 32 is held in relation to the pole 3| by the resiliency of the metal of which the member 32 is constructed.

It is to be expressly understood that the drawing and description herewith are for illustrative purposes only. I desire not to be limited in the practice of my invention, except as dened by the appended claims.

What I claim iszl. In a. golf course hole marker, a pin, a cup for said pin, a plurality of bracket members pivotally mounted on the pin, and a measuring device pivotally mounted at one end upon one of said bracket members and its other end held in folded position by another of said bracket members, whereby the distances of a plurality of balls may be measured at different distances and in different directions from said pin, and means for adjusting said bracket member in a vertical direction upon said pin.

2. In a golf course hole marker, a pin, a cup for said pin, a plurality of bracket members pivotally mounted on the pin, and a measuring device mounted at one end upon one of said bracket members and its other end held in folded position by another of said bracket members whereby the distances of a plurality of balls may be measured at different distances and in different directions from said pin.

3. In a golf course hole marker, a pin, a cup for said pin, a plurality of bracket members pivotally mounted on the pin, and a measuring device pivotally mounted at one end upon one of said bracket members and its other end heldin folded position by another of said bracket members, whereby the distances of a plurality of balls may be measured at diiierent distances and in different directions 'from said pin, and a plurality of arms attached to said last named bracket member and extending on both sides of said measuring device.

4. In a golf course hole marker, a pin, a cup for said pin, said pin having a detachable end thereon, whereby said pin may be used in a standard cup or may be used upon a. iiat surface by forcing the uncovered end thereof into said at surface, a measuring device pivotally mounted on said pin, whereby the distance from said pin of a plurality of golf balls may be measured and a golf putting device turnably mounted upon said pin, to allow putting from a plurality of different directions.

5. In a golf course hole marker, a pin, a cup for said pin, a plurality of brackets pivotally mounted upon said pin, means for vertically adjusting at least one of said brackets, a folding measuring means pivotally attached to the lower of said brackets, the upper of said brackets having a plurality of spring fingers for holding said measuring device in folded position, said brackets having extensions, a rod mounted on said extensions whereby said brackets may be raised and lowered, said rod having a plurality of spaced-apart arms attached adjacent to one end thereof, said arms being located on either side of said measuring device whereby both said measuring device and said arms may be properly positioned with reference to the lie of a golf ball by a single adjustment of said brackets.

6. In a golf course hole practicing device, a flag po1e,'a plurality of brackets pivotally mounted upon said flag pole, a. rod adjustably mounted on one end of said brackets, a measuring device supported on the other end of said bracket, and a plurality of arms mounted on the end of said rod, whereby both said measuring device and said arms may be properly positioned with reference to the lie of a. golf ball by a single adjustment of said brackets.

7. In a golf course hole marker, a pin, a goll ball receiving cup, means for supporting said pin from said cup, a measuring device having pivotal mounting means adjacent the lower end of said pin and above the top of said cup, said pin forming the sole support of said pivotally mounted measuring means.

8. In a golf course hole marker, a pin, a goli ball receiving cup, means for supporting said pin from said cup, a spool rotatably mounted upon said pin, means for holding said spool in fixed Vertical relation with reference to said pin, and a spring wound measuring tape wound on said spool whereby the distances of a plurality of balls may be measured at different distances and from diierent directions from said pin.

CHARLES G. DUGANNE. 

